The Party Superstore was/is my absolute favourite London shop until it was bizarrely attacked and gutted during the summer London riots. They have been since adopted as a concession by the local Debenhams but you can still savour the full delights of the products and nonsense on line.

My all-time favourite place. Whitewashed ex-smokehouse where Fergus Henderson pioneered the resurgent interest in offal dishes. The restaurant is brilliantly unfussy, retaining lots of the smokehouse’s original features, and the food very British, making St. JOHN something of a London institution. The restaurant has a winery and bakery.

Teeny, French cafe with amazing pastries, great coffee and incredible croque-monsieur. Long table in the front and small garden in the back or take away and head to Highbury Fields, which is only a couple of minutes away.  

Great selection of books and magazine with a big focus on rare. out-of-print books Japanese photography. Can sends hours in this little shop. I'd try to avoid on Market day (Saturday) if you want to have a good look as it can get a bit busy for such a small space.

A residential estate that once housed 40,000 people which has now become an abandoned ghost town. Minutes away from Elephant & Castle, is an unexpected dystopian treat.